Razor construction



April 7, 1956 E. .1. BROPHY 2,741,840

RAZOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 18, 1952 J 1 A I g Z0 19 N N FAG-5022222220 cf Bra oily United States Patent RAZOR CONSTRUCTION Edmund J.Brophy, Chicago, 111., assignor of one-half to B. E. Fisher, Chicago,11].

Application April 18, 1952, Serial No. 282,945

2 Claims. (CI. 30-73) My invention relates to an improvement in razorconstruction, and more particularly, to an improvement in theconstruction of guards for double-edged safety razors.

In a typical double-edged safety razor, the generally rectangulartwo-edged blade is held against a generally rectangular head piece sothat the cutting edges of the blade extend outwardly a short distancebeyond the opposite edges of the head piece. The blade is clampedagainst the head piece by a generally rectangular guard which hasopposite edges spaced from and aligned with the opposite head piece andblade cutting edges so as to present an allochiral pair of guardedcutting edges. The opposite edges of the guard extend forwardly of aswell as outwardly from the blade cutting edges so as to afford greatersafety in the handling of the razor.

During shaving, the operator holds the razor angularly with respect tothe surface of the skin, so that the particular blade cutting edge usedand the corresponding guard edge are aligned in a plane generallyparallel to the plane of the skin surface. The guard thus acts as aguide (contacting the skin at a line) spaced from the line of contactbetween the razor blade and the skin. This particular alignment of theguard and blade edges is essentially a matter of feel or touch in thecontrol of the operator. The operator uses the guard to ride along onthe surface of the skin comfortably, so as to prevent the blade frommaking sharp, biting contact with the skin, while permitting the bladeto cut off upstanding hairs as nearly as possible to the skin level.

In this respect, it is important to note that the operator carries outthe shaving process mainly by the use of the sense of touch. Whether ornot a blade is dull, and whether or not the angle at which the razor isheld should be changed a few degrees are questions answered solely bythe operators sense of touch. The individual hair sizes, bladethicknesses and razor position all involve extremely small dimensionaltolerances. The detailed mechanics of the operation are neither observednor appreciated, ordinarily.

Although the thickness as well as the length of the individual hairs ina beard may vary appreciably, as a general average the hair thickness isabout 0.0004 inch. The guard, in passing over the skin first attempts toremove some of the lather and to momentarily bend the individual hairsforward. The small space of about 0.0015 inch between the guard and theblade edge permits the hairs to rise slightly before contacting theblade and being cut thereby.

The instant invention is based upon an unobvious discovery which can nowbe explained only after a detailed study of the mechanics of the shavingoperation. It has been found that, by new and apparently insignificantvariations in razor arrangement and construction, unusually importantand appreciably noticeable improvements in the performance of a singlerazor can be obtained.

Because of the inherent beard density variations, for example, on theface of each user, the performance of a given razor is almost invariablyunsatisfactory for shaving either the light cheek beard or the densebeard of mustaches or sideburns; For example, it is true that, as theoperator stumbles through his morning shave, he may be barely consciousof little more than the fact that some parts of his face appear to outeasily and shaving of other parts of his face requires repeated passesby the razor. Usually, the operator assumes that it is his own clumsyoperation of the razor that causes the trouble. The instant invention isbased upon the discovery that this defective feature actually resides inthe particular razor construction.

It is, therefore, an important object of the instant invention toprovide a razor construction to accommodate shaving of different typesand densities of beards by the use of a single razor. As used herein,the term beard is not intended, however, to mean only the growth of hairupon the face. Shaving of growths of hair on other parts of the body,such as the arms and legs, is also contemplated.

Another important object of the instant invention is to provide animproved razor construction comprising means for guiding the two bladeedges of a double-edged blade at different spacings from a line ofcontact between the razor and the skin surface to be shaved, thereby toaccommodate the shaving of different types and densities of beards.

it is a further object of the instant invention to provide a razorconstruction for accommodating the shaving of different types anddensities of beards that comprises a safety razor guard presentingguarding faces contiguous to each of the blade edges for contacting theskin along a line spaced forwardly of the corresponding blade edge,wherein one of the blade edges is spaced closely to the respectiveguarding face, for use with a light beard, and the other of the bladeedges is spaced a substantially greater distance from its respectiveguarding face.

Other'objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent to one skilled in the art from the following descriptionof the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational viewof a razor constructionembodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded side elevational view, of the razor constructionof Figure l;

Figure 3 is an exploded sectional elevational view taken substantiallyalong the line liI-1II of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a razor guard used in the instant razorconstruction; 7 j

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation showing in detailthe cooperation between the razor guard and the razor blade in apreferred embodiment of the instant razor construction on thequick-cutting side thereof; 4

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed elevational view of an edgeportion of the guard employed in the instant razor construction,corresponding to Figure 5.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 19, in Figure 1, indicates generally adouble-edged safety razor, the head portion'of which is shown. The razor10 comprises a handle 11 adapted to threadedly engage the screw-likemember 12 of a head piece 13, for actuation of the head piece 13 towardand away from the handle 11. A

The screw member 12 is adapted to passthrough the central portion of .asuitably apertured double-edged safety razor blade 14, and through thecentral portion of a suitably apertured safety razor guard 15, so thatthe screw member 12 may make contactwith a threaded socket of the handle11. As is well known, the blade 14 is clampingly engaged between thehead piece 13 and the guard 15, supported by the handle 11, merely byrota- The general manner in which the head piece 13 cooperates. with.the. guard.-15..to. maintain clamping engagement 'upon. the blade F14and to maintain I the? bladelm in al'fixed position with respectjto.theheadpiecelii'. and the guard 15' is Welllknown inv the art. A'sJanexample, in Figure 3; it can be seentthat the head piece l3fhas 7 twodependinglugs 1'6, lh'spaced Iongitudinallyon oppo:

Referring again to 'Figure'l, it willbe seen that the head piece '13isgenerally bow-shaped in .cross:section so thatit may clampingly engagethe'blade 14 against the contact surface or-table 18 of the. guard15insuch a manner thatitlie blade 1'4 will also be bent or b'owedtherebyldefiecting each of the cutting edges ofthe blade forwardslightly, as shown in Figure 1".

The tableportion 18 of'thegna'rd. 15 is actually more in.the' nature ofa framesurrounding the dished portion of the guard IS'and presenting asurface upon which the central portion of a blade .14 may bear.Extending outwardly'from either side of thetable p'ortion18 are winglikeintegral guard edges which curve'back sharply at the tablesed'ge on.eachsideand then curve outwardly a generally. concave arc to presentgenerally parallel. plane surfaces 19;19'with respectto the blade14'b'efore itis hent"forwardly in clamping position. Then, as 'showniuFigure 7 2, extendingaoutwardly from the left-hand. plane surface'1'9fthe guard edge curves sharply'forward to define agenerally roundedoutward'extremity, the curved portion 20 thereof having substantiallythe cross-section of'a quadrant." v V r A's can beseen'byreference-tothe left=handside of Figure '1', in thenormalrazorconstruction,the blade "14 is defiecteddownward 'by andextendsoutward from the outeredge of-the head piece 13; The guard lspresents a generally flatsurface 19 directly'forwardofthe' outerextremityof the blade 14- and the guard extendsoutwardly beyond theextremity=of the blade "14"and then curvessharpl'y forward-to define therounded extreme edge 20. 7

'Atwwill' be: explained indetaifhereinafter, the instant inventionresides in the use of"aconstructioniwherehrone edgeofthe guard 15 hassubstantially the normal con- 'structionsho'wn on the left hand side ofFigure 1. The othen'edge-of the-guard; as shownon the right hand' sideOfiFigure l; is, however, spaced for-ward -a greater distance from thecutting edge or extremity of thefblade l4randlonis.hattened orbeveled'(instead of rounded as at the:.outer edge. 20.. of :the .eguard': 15-)Another. feature which 1the. instanti applicant has :found to beparticularly significantzin therazor construction' of his:.invention.isthatxshowndnfigure-t t. .As-can'be-seen from Figure 4, the. normalguard". construction, as shown on theleft-hand-side. of Figure 4, callsfor a plurality of slots, 21,l.eacl 1 extending generally.paralleLtosthe rounded edgezfland. inwardly therefrom,- and" beingseparated'by spacers or bridges 22 (on ly one ofwhich isshown herein)..In:.therazor.construction of the instant invention, as shownmon. the.righohand sideiof Figure 4, the. guard :15 has ae continuous slot.23..extending;generally parallel; to

Other structures may, ofj'course, be used the outer. extremity .oflt'he.particular guard edgethat is modified according to'the invention .andishere designated as24, 'so as to permitunobstructed flow of shavedbeardandilathertherethrough. It'willbe appreciatedthatthe continuous slot 23extends substantially the full length oftliebut'tihg' edge of "thebladel l corresponding thereto, so as to present an uninterruptedpassageway the full length of the blade edge for the flow of shavedbeard and lather therethrough. It has been found that amost unexpectedimprovement in connection with the prevention of clogging of the razorduring use is obtained by the use of this what-appears-to-beinsignificant alteration inthe structure of the guard-15. Theeffectiveness of the slot as a passageway for. shaved beard. and lather.is, of course, substantially more noticeable when used in cooperationwith the increased space between the blade cutting edge and theguardcdge lk in accordancewi'ththe principles of the present invention. 7

Referring now to Figures'S and 6, wherein the righthand side 24 of theblade guard 15 of Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 is shown in detail, the brokenline shows the corresponding shape and contour, in. cross-section, of.the lefthandlsidelfor the purpose of comparing the two sidesof.therazof) with.reference numerals 19f indicat-v ing thet plan'e surface.19, and.20? .indicatingthe curved portionof the.v guard face contiguousto the corresponding blade edge. .As canbe seen, the guardiface on thenormal or left-hand: sideof the. razor. guard spaced a distance a.fromthe'hlade edge; but on 'th'e'right-hand side24 hereshowngthe guard,plane surface 25' is spacedianadditionaltdistance 12". from. the bladeedge. Ordinarily, the distance".iz'is ahoutIOl'OOlS-OJO'OZO inch,whereas the dis-. tance b is prefer-ably at least aboutOlOOlO-OQOIS, orthree orfouradditionalhair. thicknesses. This. apparentlyminutefincrease in space producesv an amazingly different resultbestdemonstrate'djby,the touch response experiencedby, theuser duringshaving. ftwill, of course,

be appreciatedthat the guard side v24 may be spaced much greater.distances fromthe blade edge, or for. that matter, be partially orcompletely. removed, so as to obtaincertain of'fthe Benefits of the.inventiomfbut in order to obtain. bestperf'ormance, it isusuallypreferabl'e. to ems ploy adistance.b offrom about 01001 to=about0.005, so that thes'having properties of the two razor sidesarenot too radically 'difieren't.

Also, it can be seen from Figure 6 in particular, that theroundedsurface 20" whichwould correspond tothe rounded surface 20 on theleft-hand side of'the guard lshas'the shapein cross-section of 'aquadrant ofa circle of radius i',tl1'e=angle0being Onthe, guard side 24,however,,the edge 26 'is'beveled along thechord or line.xx, soas toreduce the cross-sectional'area to'that resultin'g from the removal ofasegment subtendedby'the chord xx. 'l'thasbeen foundthat removal ofmaterial'along'thee'dge24must be =at least as much as that described.The minimum reduction in cross-sectional area (or'theminiinumdifferential between the twoguard edges) should'be approximatelyequivalent tosuch segment, although the resulting surface 26' maybedefined by'any line of'radius greater than r's'tartin g within therearmost. 30 of. the quadrant, hereinclesignated by the symbol.,;and'extending forwardly and outwardly so as to define a1cross:sectional areareduction of 'at'leas't' the area'ofthe segmentof the quadrant. V

lti'will be; appreciated that by bevelingthe 813646 as described, 'theguide line of contact between theguard edgeand the skin isshifted'forward froma line intersectin'gia pointon'the(cross-sectional)arc x.x' oftlie surface 20"of 'Fi'gure'fi to thepoint, desingated'xQatthe forwardmost edge of. the. beveled surface 26;. thereby increasingthe spacebetweenthe guideline an'dltherazor.

the instant razor. construction. suitably arranged or designedaccording. to. the present teachings,.the operator will experience anentirely new shaving comfort. The normal or closely spaced constructionon one side may be used on those sensitive portions of the skin withoutpain or annoyance and the more widely spaced construction may be used onthe remaining portions of the skin, such as at sideburns, mustaches andheavy chin beards so as to accomplish amazing quick and effectiveshaving in such regions without the necessity of making repeated passeswith the razor. The entire shaving operation is simplified and expeditedto an unusual, almost unbelievable extent, solely by taking advantage ofthe minute but critical structural differences in the guard design.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of thepatented claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a safety razor including a handle and a head piece actuable towardthe handle for clampingly engaging a double-edged blade, means forguiding the two blade edges at the different spacings from a line ofcontact between the razor and the skin surface to be shaved toaccommodate the shaving of difierent types and densities of beards,comprising a safety razor guard presenting guarding faces contiguous toeach of the blade edges, one of said faces being spaced closely forwardof the contiguous blade edge corresponding thereto and extendingoutwardly and curvingly forward therefrom to define a quadrant shapedcross-sectional edge and the other of said faces being spaced at least0.00100.0015 inch more 6 than the first from its corresponding bladeedge and having a cross-sectional shape that would result from theremoval from said quadrant of at least the segment thereof.

2. In a safety razor including a handle and a head piece actuable towardthe handle for clampingly engaging a double-edged blade, means forguiding the two blade edges at the difierent spacings from a line ofcontact between the razor and the skin surface to be shaved toaccommodate the shaving of different types and densities of beards,comprising a safety razor guard presenting guarding faces contiguous toeach of the blade edges, one of said faces being spaced closely forwardof the contiguous blade edge corresponding thereto and extendingoutwardly and curvingly forward therefrom to define a quadrant shapedcross-sectional edge of radius r and the other of said faces beingspaced at least 0.00l0-0.0015 inch more than said one face from itscorresponding blade edge and having a cross-sectional shape that wouldresult from the removal from said one face of at least the quadrantsegment thereof along a line of radius greater than r starting with-inthe rearmost 30 of the quadrant.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS896,153 Reed Aug. 18, 1908 1,805,509 Behrman May 19,1931 1,934,148Rogers Nov. 7, 1933 2,270,388 Stampleman Jan. 20,1942 2,362,851 PrzybyszNov. 14, 1944 2,367,422 Muros Jan. 16, 1945

